The last week in Koh Tao was an exciting one. Many people have been coming and going. I was not the first or the last. With the first DMT, Mahats leaving just a few days before me, everyone got together and did a DMT underwater photo shoot. We dove at Shark Island and Aow Leuk. The conditions were beautiful and we finally got some shots of all of us together doing what we love. We brought down props and built a human pyramid. There were sword fights and water guns. A bottle of wine was even brought down and drunk at 10 meters (not quite PADI standards, but it was only a sip each....we just needed to see that it could be done). The photos turned out amazing thanks to our beautiful photographer, Alice. Here are a few of them. There will be many more to come later.
From the DMT shoot, we all just got out diving again. Mahats had his snorkel test last Friday night, complete with scavenger hunt and three legged race. Afterwards, a huge group of up went into Sairee and crashed the DJL pool party. It was a soaking wet night, but a great time for everyone. I think everyone started getting sick after that...there was about that pool that I don't even want to know about.
Then it was down to my last couple of days. I planned my diving so that I could take an afternoon off with everyone to enjoy an afternoon picnic at one of the local beaches. We brought or dive bags full of fins, masks and snorkels, hoping to get in the sea during the afternoon together and made our way down the treacherous road to Aow Leuk. After two people, including myself, skid down one of the roads, we decided to shuttle in on some of the bigger bikes. I'm definitely much better now that I've been driving for a few weeks, but these roads of concrete covered by sand are just too much for me to take.
We got to the most beautiful beach and were almost immediately approached by an insane little Thai man going through our bags and throwing our things around. It was his beach apparently, and he didn't like us bringing in dive bags and food that wasn't purchased from him. He made actions to slap us all and then began karate kicking Adam, screaming for us to leave. We did nothing in retaliation for fear that he might pull out something more that his foot. We left bitching and complaining, swearing no more money would ever be spent there. When we got back and told others about it, we heard that this has happened before. That guy was a nut!
So instead, we made our way to Sairee beach on a much safer road. We went all the way to the north and tucked between some boulders to stay out of the intense sun. We listened to music, some of us swam. All in all, we just generally enjoy one of our last days together. It was worth missing the afternoon dives to be with these beautiful people.
After the picnic, we headed up one of the mountains to Sunset View, a restaurant overlooking all of Sairee. We had our fruit shakes and hoped that the sunset would come out through the clouds, which it didn't. It was a slight disappointment, but gorgeous all the same. From there we did the farewell dinner for Mahats and then I prepped for a day full of diving.
I did four dives on my last full day in Koh Tao. Unfortunately, the night before I burned my leg on the exhaust pipe of my bike, so keeping it clean and dry was my ultimate goal. It's a wicked burn that wen through at least three layers of skin. My new Koh Tao tattoo, I guess I needed to take something home with me as I've bought no other souvenirs. So I bandaged myself up and got in the water. Our first dive site was Mango Bay, one of my favorites, as there is a HUGE cloud of my wonderful fussilier fish that I just love to go play in. Unfortunately, I was assisting on an open water course, so I wasn't able to sit in the school for too long. But at least I got to see them and say goodbye.
The afternoon dives were beautiful as all of my girls came out and we did two girlie dives at Chumporn and Green Rock. We just swam about and played in more schools of fish. We went down over 30 meters and looked for the bull sharks lurking around us in the sea (we found none...thank god). The fishes were crazy that day and I was sure something big would show itself, but never did. The visibility was stunning and although I had the option for diving the next morning before my boat, after two perfect dives with my very wonderful friends, I knew that was it. I'm done diving in the waters off Koh Tao for the next couple of months.
My going away night was spectacular. We made it out to the Caberet, Thai lady boy show, one last time...and the best that I've seen. Even the boys joined us this time and we made a night out of it in Sairee afterwards. It was an emotional evening, but nothing compared to the next day, my last.
I awoke bright and early with Sam and Camilla and burst into tears at the though of having to leave them later in the day. Adam came over and helped console me as well. We went back to the shop and I got everything out of my file. I said my goodbyes to the instructors I will see in a few months and then made my way back home to pack up my bungalow. There was a lecture in the afternoon which everyone attended, so Sam and I were left to ourselves, just hanging out, waiting for the inevitable. Chris and Sam drove me to the pier to catch my boat and I got a text from the others saying they weren't going to make it. As the boat pulled up and I was just ready to get on, I got a call from Adam telling me not to get on, and the next thing you know, I looked over and five more of my friends were there wanting hugs before I left. Of course there were more tears and getting on that boat was one of the hardest things I've ever done. They all stayed at the pier and watched me cry from the upper deck of the boat until I couldn't see them any longer. I got some beautiful texts from them on my way up to Bangkok last night. I left a piece of my heart with them and I just wish I could go back. In July, some will be there, but others will not be. They have made the last two months the best I could have ever imagined. I'm still tearing up now as I write this blog.
So, after six and a half weeks, four pairs of flip flops, three pairs of sunglasses and almost 80 new dives in my logbook, I am back in Bangkok. I made it in at 5am this morning and my flight to New Zealand is at 5:30 tonight. It's going to take me a long time to get over leaving Koh Tao, but the photos and memories will keep me going for a while. I can't wait to go back. I can't wait to see where some of these friendships will lead me. Most of all, I can't wait to tell everyone all about this experience when I get home. See you all very soon.
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